Introduction
As the name suggests, the African Grey is gray. The Congo African Grey Parrot is the most commonly kept African Grey. These are also called the Red Tailed Grey because of the bright scarlet or red feathers of the tail. These are extremely social birds and do particularly well with owners who can give them a lot of time and attention. African Greys are also one of the most intelligent companion birds learning not just to talk but also to understand the meanings of words and use them in the correct context. They are able to solve complicated puzzles and can learn how to open their own cages.
In the Beginning
If you are fortunate enough to acquire your African Grey while he is still a youngster, begin immediately to socialize with him. To produce a calm and happy bird, he must be socialized with the entire family. Greys crave attention so spend as much time as possible with him, hand feeding him when he is an infant, gently caressing his back, speaking softly to him.
As he begins to accept you, he will want to be with you whenever you are in the room. He may even get out of his cage to come over to you and look adoringly at your face until you pick him up so he can sit on your shoulder. If you have spent enough gentle time with him, you need not fear his biting though he may take hold of your ear or whatever body part he can reach. He is simply tasting you and you may even feel his tongue flick over your skin. He is telling you that you are loved by a bird.
Feeding
Introduce a variety of foods into his diet. Commercially sold parrot food will contain seeds, dried fruit and nuts. However, for a balanced and nutritious diet, your parrot needs fresh veggies and fruits and it will be up to you to provide these.
Lets start with what NOT to give your bird. Chocolate, rhubarb, and avocado can be deadly if eaten by the parrot. It is also recommended that your parrot NOT be given alcohol or food that is particularly salty or sugary.
Parrots are quite fond of fruit, particularly grapes and apples. Remove the seeds from apples before feeding them to your bird, as these are toxic. They may also enjoy melons, bananas, peaches, pears, plums and berries. Be sure to remove any uneaten fruit from the cage after a couple of hours to avoid fruit flies.
Vegetables are an important component in a parrot's diet. They may like green beans, any kind of green, such as chard or collards. Celery and carrots are not only good for your bird but also give them the opportunity to crunch, something parrots like to do. Parrots enjoy peppers and will even eat a jalapeno with gusto.
Don’t be discouraged if your parrot does not take right away to newly introduced foods. Sometimes they just need to get used to the idea. They are such curious creatures that the curiosity usually wins out and you will see your little friend pick up that carrot or apple slice. The key is not to give up.
Talking
Parrots are natural mimickers and African Greys are especially good at this. You will be teaching your bird to talk without even realizing it. If there is a phone in the room where your bird is housed, you will begin to hear the “bird phone” ring and not be able to tell the difference. Whenever you interact with your Grey, tell him what you are doing. For instance, when you stroke his neck, you might say “Would you like your neck stroked?” When you put him to bed at night you may say “good night” and he will begin to wish you a good night as well.
It is easy to know how a bird is communicated with when you go into the home of a Grey owner and the bird says “bad bird” or “come here, sweetie” so choose your words well when speaking to your parrot. And don’t forget to keep the fowl (pun intended) language to a minimum or you may have yourself a bird you must hide from the minister.
Because African Greys are so intelligent, it is not necessary to leave a tape on with the same words or phrases repeated over and over. That may only stress your friend. You will be surprised how much your bird picks up from ordinary conversation. Just remember to make it fun.
Troubleshooting
You may notice that your parrot picks at his chest, pulling out feathers at an alarming rate. Your bird is stressed and it is important to identify the cause. Is he getting enough attention? Is there a dog or cat in the vicinity that makes your bird nervous? Is he bored?
Does your Grey bite or make threatening lunges toward you or others? Always speak gently and softly to your bird. Tell visitors to approach the Grey slowly and not to make any sudden moves or try to pet the bird unless the bird knows that person well. Be especially cautious with children and your Grey. An African Grey will bite if he feels threatened.
Does your bird chew on your furniture, his cover or your shoes? Simple fix. Give him plenty of things to chew on, clean, smooth pieces of wood, paper or cuttle bones.
In Closing
Your wonderful African Grey companion will be with you for a long time. Their life expectancy can be as much as 50 years. Make sure you provide for them when preparing your will. If and when you go away on vacation and must leave your little friend, leave him with someone he is familiar with but don’t be surprised if you get back and find he has been picking at his chest. He may be comfortable with his caregiver but he is still missing you. He will recover quickly once back in your loving presence.
References
A New Owner's Guide to African Grey Parrots; Nikki Moustaki; 2004; T.F.H. Publications, Inc.
http://birdscomefirst.org; "Feeding Your Parrot"; 2005 by William O'Rourke
Iris Gallagher - Writing has been a passion for as long as I can remember. I still have poetry I wrote as an eight year old. I was born in Tennessee, grew ...
